High Winds
Islington Council leader Cllr James Kempton launched the highest wind turbine in Islington - a 12-metre Proven turbine on Kestrel House on the King Square Estate in Finsbury. It sits on top of the 18-storey, 55-metre-high tower block. It is the third wind energy scheme backed by Islington Council as part of its aim to be “London’s greenest borough”. Islington Council has also erected a wind turbine in Gillespie Park, Highbury, and the one on the roof of the Municipal Offices in Upper Street, Islington.
week ending 15 August 2008
Warwick Support
On my house, a large Victorian double-fronted in Leamington’s conservation area, I have a solar thermal panel, which heats my water; a micro wind-generator which is part of the Warwick Wind Trials. Last week, the Warwick District Council voted by six to three to allow me to put a large array of solar photovoltaic cells on the gable end of the house to generate electricity. The vote was two Conservative, two Labour and two Lib Dems, cross-party support in favour of mitigating climate change.
Independent 15th Aug 2008 more >>
Eco-tourism
Eco-architect Bill Dunster is in talks with tourism companies to design holiday homes that can supply their own power for heating and electricity. The architect’s ZEDfactory practice has produced draft plans for 30m2 “Landark” cabins, designed to sleep up to six people. They will include a composting toilet, wood-fired kitchen stove, a green roof and solar panels. They will come with a free mountain bike. A communal wind turbine could be installed where the cabins are built in a cluster.
Building 15th Aug 2008 more >>
Sheffield
Sheffield Community Renewables are searching for suitable sites for the city’s first weir-powered micro power station – Kelham is now a possibility, it seems.
Sheffield Telegraph 15th Aug 2008 more >>
Sheffield Council proposes to increase the amounts of affordable housing in new schemes but will negotiate levels of affordable housing that are viable for developers. It is also proposed to change the requirements for reducing carbon emissions, requiring decentralised renewable energy generation as well as promoting more sustainable design.
Sheffield City Council 14th Aug 2008 more >>
Leeds
Leeds city council has revealed plans to embrace green methods of power next year. Council officials have announced that they will demonstrate their commitment to reducing carbon emissions by erecting a small wind turbine at the John Charles Centre for Sport, which will also cut the council’s energy bills in the long run.
Green Building 14th Aug 2008 more >>
NHS Sustainability
The NHS sustainable development unit put a draft carbon reduction strategy, Saving Carbon, Improving Health, out to consultation at the end of May. It sparked such debate among managers that the consultation period has been extended to the end of September.
Health Service Journal 14th Aug 2008 more >>
Renewable Leasing
AN innovative scheme to help firms overcome cost barriers to installing renewable energy systems could encourage more workplaces on Teesside to go green. Stockton-based AAG Swepco has introduced a leasing system which allows companies to spread the cost of renewable technologies, such as wind turbines and solar panels. The scheme, backed by ethical lender the Co-operative Bank and others, is the first in the UK to lease multiple technologies.
Newcastle Evening Gazette 14th Aug 2008 more >>
Peak Power
A new village hall, which would use renewable energy sources, including photovoltaic tiles and a ground-source heat pump, has not been recommended for planning permission by Peak District National Park Officials.
Bakewell Today 14th Aug 2008 more >>
California Dreaming
PG&E, a California power company, has placed an order for what are believed to be the world’s two biggest photovoltaic solar farms, giving a strong endorsement to a technology that few power generators have yet considered to be ready for utility-scale use.
FT 14th Aug 2008 more >>
Lochaber Register
AN increase in the number of planning applications for hydro schemes and wind turbines has caused Lochaber councillors to call for a register of the existing schemes in the district, and for an audit of the total megawatts produced.
Lochaber News 14th Aug 2008 more >>
East Midlands Airport
The airport hopes to have four 135ft wind turbines in place by the end of the year, providing 10% of its energy.
Derby Evening Telegraph 14th Aug 2008 more >>
Banbury Star
Businessman Tim Fenn has won a regional award for his new ‘eco-homes’ venture, Green Carbon Construction, set up last year to design and build a new generation of high-performance eco-homes.
Banbury Cake 14th Aug 2008 more >>
Competent Person Scheme
The Microgeneration Certi-fication Scheme (MCS) must be integrated into Competent Person Schemes (CPS) if it is to stand any chance of increasing installer uptake say leading industry figures. The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) held a meeting with potential new certification bodies on Tuesday and hopes that opening the scheme up to competition in September will help expand the market.
H&V News 14th Aug 2008 more >>
Green Exmoor
AN Exmoor outdoor adventure centre is hoping to take several steps up the green energy ladder by installing solar panels and a small wind turbine. The Calvert Trust, which provides activity holidays for people with disabilities, has applied to North Devon for permission to implement the energy saving measures.
North Devon Gazette 13th August 2008 more >>
Historic Buildings
SOLAR panels are set to be installed on the roofs of four Georgian tenement buildings in Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site. The plans, drawn up by the Lister Housing Co-operative, will see the panels fitted to the sloping roofs of buildings on Lauriston Place and Keir Street. The proposals have been developed by the housing group in association with Changeworks, the Edinburgh-based sustainable development organisation, and Edinburgh World Heritage. It is part of the ongoing Renewable Heritage project, which aims to demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating renewable energy into older properties. The solar panels would provide renewable water heating for all of the flats in the buildings, with each of the panels connected to a specific flat.
Edinburgh Evening News 13th August 2008 more >>
East Hampshire Eco-town
The architect behind East Hampshire District Council’s bid to turn Whitehill Bordon into an Eco-town is so sure that it will be a success that she has vowed to move there.
East Hampshire District Council 12th August 2008 more >>
Fife Biomass
Following two years of research, Diageo, which produces spirits including Johnnie Walker, Tanqueray and Smirnoff, has signed a partnership agreement with energy management company, Dalkia, to create a new biomass facility.
Fife Today 12th Aug 2008 more >>
Pembrokeshire Funding
Funding of up to £120,000 is to be made available to Pembrokeshire County Council to provide assistance for some first-time buyers in the county, for energy efficiency improvement measures. The funding from the Welsh Assembly Government will provide assistance to first-time buyers in the declared renewal areas in the county, which are in Haverfordwest and Milford Haven.
Pembrokeshire County Council 12th August 2008 more >>
Eco-Bus HQ
A new HQ for First Bus is being built in Aberdeen by Stewart Milne and will include a ground source heat pump.
Aberdeen Press and Journal 12th August 2008 more >>
Edinburgh Community Energy Co-operative
Meeting to give a progress report planned for 23rd August.
North Edinburgh News 12th August 2008 (page 17) more >>
Shepway Solar
Grants of up £1,000 are being offered to Shepway residents towards the cost of solar hot water or electric systems. The grants are being offered through pilot scheme launched by Shepway Council to promote solar renewable energy.
Shepway District Council 11th Aug 2008 more >>
Carbon cuts from existing buildings
A consultation is taking place soon on ways to reduce carbon emissions from the existing housing stock. The UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC) has teamed up with the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes, the Sustainable Development Commission and the Technology Strategy Board to carry out a wide-reaching industry and stakeholder investigation. A 2-week online consultation period will start on 18th August at www.ukgbc.org and a workshop on 12th September. The final report, to be completed at the end of September, will be sent to government and will recommend a series of measures for tackling carbon emissions in existing homes. There will be a government consultation in the autumn leading to a ‘Low Carbon Homes Strategy’ in spring 2009.
Green Building 11th Aug 2008 more >>
Small Wind
Small wind turbines could be ineffective in urban areas, according to a new study into the potential of small-scale wind energy. The report from the Carbon Trust says that small wind turbines could provide up to 1.5 Terawatt Hours (TWh) per year of electricity (0.4% of total UK electricity consumption) and 0.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (MtCO2) emission savings.
Green Building 11th Aug 2008 more >>
French-designed Turbine
Starck plans to launch the first designer wind turbine for the home in Britain next year and claims it will cost as little as £400 to provide a small house with 60% of the power that it needs for heating and lighting.
Sunday Times 10th Aug 2008 more >>
Building 11th Aug 2008 more >>
German debate
IN THE fairytale town of Marburg, there’s a bitter struggle taking place over how to create a green Utopia – a vehement debate about when urging eco-friendly living turns into “green dictatorship”. In June, the town council moved from merely encouraging citizens to install solar panels to making them obligatory. The law, the first of its kind in Germany, would require solar panels not only on new buildings but also on existing homes that undergo renovations, get new heating systems or have roof repairs.
Scotland on Sunday 10th August 2008 more >>
DIY
Using the likes of solar panels, biomass heaters, wind turbines or ground-source heat pumps, it’s possible to wipe hundreds of pounds off your energy bills each year – and, if you generate enough power, you can ever sell what you don’t need back to the National Grid. At the moment, this is still a relatively primitive process. But Oliver Wright of the Energy Retail Association says that once smart meters are rolled out over the next few years, it will become much easier. Smart meters will automatically keep the power company informed about how much energy you’re using, as well as how much you’re generating – and will help to ensure you get full credit for any micro-generation
Independent 9th Aug 2008 more >>
Proven Turbine
The new Proven 15kW machine is aimed at farms and small industrial units and is said to be capable of meeting the energy needs of six three-bedroom houses, excluding heating. That means it should be able to power a farmhouse and contribute towards the energy requirement of outbuildings, whether in agricultural use or converted to non-ag use. Excess power can often also be stored and sold to the grid.
Farmers Weekly 9th Aug 2008 more >>
Green Loos
THE wind of change could soon be blowing through rural toilets as green power is used to make them energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Ribble Valley Council said the bottom line was that many of its public toilets were so energy efficient that they could be run on wind power alone. It is now considering whether to install wind turbines on many of the council-run public conveniences - and make it the green loo capital of England.
Lancashire Telegraph 8th Aug 2008 more >>
Lewes Low Carbon
Lewes District Council’s Local Sustainability Team have been making good use of the Smarter Living Trailer around the District, providing advice and solutions to people wishing to follow lower carbon lifestyles. The Local Sustainability Team is able to provide advice on energy conservation, recycling, transport alternatives, local food choices, renewable energy solutions, water reduction, low impact building and many other sustainable solutions for a low carbon lifestyle.
Lewes District Council 8th Aug 2008 more >>